“Amazon has a long but quiet history of giving back. It has launched initiatives to employ disabled veterans and their spouses, created the Amazon Smile website that supports consumers’ favorite charities, and more. But now, the company that started with books is getting back to its roots with the launch of the Kindle Reading Fund, a branch of the organization that will provide reading materials to charities that are already doing the legwork of literacy to people all around the world.” (via Goodereader.com)

“Today at ISTE 2016, Amazon announced Amazon Inspire, a free service for the search, discovery and distribution of digital educational resources. Developed in support of the company’s commitment to making digital classrooms a reality, Amazon Inspire, with its rich features such as search, discovery and peer reviews, will provide educators—regardless of funding or location—access to upload and share free digital teaching resources.” (via Amazon)

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June 27, 2016Comments Off on Announcing Amazon Inspire, a Free Service for Digital Educational ResourcesAmazon

“Amazon.com Inc. won a deal worth about $30 million to provide e-books to New York City, the nation’s largest school district.The city’s Panel for Educational Policy voted Wednesday in favor of the three-year contract for the Department of Education, which will take effect in the coming school year. They will have the option to extend it for an additional two years, which would be worth an estimated additional $34.5 million.” (via WSJ)

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April 21, 2016Comments Off on Amazon Wins $30 Million Contract to Sell E-Books to New York City SchoolsAmazon, ebooks, New York City

“After dipping its toes into brick-and-mortar retailing last year with its first physical bookstore, online giant Amazon.com Inc. is poised to dive into the deep end. The Seattle company plans to open as many as 400 bookstores, Sandeep Mathrani, chief executive of mall operator General Growth Properties Inc., said on an earnings call on Tuesday. “You’ve got Amazon opening brick-and-mortar bookstores and their goal is to open, as I understand, 300 to 400,” said Mr. Mathrani in response to a question about mall traffic.” (via WSJ)

“This week, Amazon unveiled a brick and mortar bookstore in Seattle’s University Village. It was covered widely across the press, and the Atlantic was even inspired to wonder: “Did Amazon just replace the public library?” “Amazon is aiming to create… spaces that are premised on books, but realized by community,” the author wrote. “The books here may be bought rather than borrowed, certainly, but in terms of the space created, the goal [of Amazon Books] is the same [as a public library].” (via Motherboard)

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November 7, 2015Comments Off on ?Amazon Will Never, Ever, Replace LibrariesAmazon